Volume 3.16 | May 7

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STORY

Researchers found that growing human melanoma cells in co-cultures with human primary lymphatic endothelial cells revealed crosstalk of cancer cells with the tumor microenvironment leading to the increased invasive growth of melanoma cells and distant organ metastasis in a mouse tumor model. [Press release from the University of Helsinki discussing online prepublication in eLife]
Press Release | Full Article

Researchers describe the construction of iEC2812, a genome scale metabolic reconstruction of endothelial cells and its application to describe metabolic changes that occur following endothelial dysfunction. [Sci Rep]
Full Article

Scientists investigated allosteric inhibition using binders targeting extracellular subdomains 4-7 of VEGFR-2 as an alternative to existing anti-angiogenic therapies, which rely on neutralizing VEGF or blocking of the ligand-binding site on the receptor. [Int J Mol Sci]
Full Article

The authors identified 115 differentially expressed genes in young CD34+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), 54 differentially expressed genes in aged CD34+ EPCs, and 25 common genes between normoxia and hypoxia groups. Among them, the expression of solute carrier family 2, member 1 increased the most by hypoxia in young cells. [PLoS One]
Full Article

Vascugen Inc. announced that it has licensed a suite of intellectual property developed at the Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine related to blood vessel formation from adult stem cells. The regenerative medicine company is focused on finding therapies to repair tissues damaged by reduced blood flow due to disease or injury. [Vascugen Inc.]
Press Release

Novartis announced new positive brolucizumab data in neovascular age-related macular degeneration from a pre-specified secondary analysis of the Phase III HAWK and HARRIER trials. This is the first time a high level of reliability has been prospectively demonstrated for a pre-specified secondary endpoint of a 12-week dosing interval with an anti-VEGF therapy in Phase III trials. [Novartis]
Press Release

Genentech announced that the FDA has accepted the company’s supplemental Biologics License Application and granted Priority Review for TECENTRIQ®, in combination with Avastin®, paclitaxel and carboplatin, for the initial treatment of people with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. [Genentech]
Press Release

Basic researchers who study the brain and human behavior thought lawmakers had come to their rescue in March by blocking the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from redefining their studies as clinical trials. But NIH officials are still pushing ahead with new requirements that scientists say make no sense and will cripple their research. [ScienceInsider]
Editorial

An online petition calling on the National Academy of Sciences to revoke memberships bestowed on people sanctioned for sexual harassment has garnered more than 250 signatures since it was posted on May 1. [The Scientist]
Editorial

Nature has named Magdalena Skipper as its new editor-in-chief. She is the first woman to hold the post. Skipper, who is currently editor-in-chief of the open-access journal Nature Communications, will become the eighth editor of Nature. [Nature News]
Editorial

Nature journals encourage stem-cell scientists to embrace guidelines agreed in 2016 by the International Society for Stem Cell Research as they design, execute and report their research. [Nature News]
Editorial